Apart from Exercise, Discover How Dog Parks Develop Dogs Social Skills.

When looking at local exercise locations you can share with your dog, the best options allow for your dog to be off the lead, to be able to play with other dogs, sniff, jump, climb and generally run around.
Most councils across Australia have specific areas, fenced off that are typically part of a larger public recreation area with children’s play equipment, barbecues and undercover seating. Many are divided off into areas for smaller and larger breeds and come with a variety of hills, tunnels, paths and water stations to keep dogs entertained for hours, making them the obvious choice to not only exercise but ‘socialise’ your furry friend too.

This article will look at the pros and cons of dog parks and give you some ways to help make the experience one you’ll want to repeat often.

Councils in recent years have put thought into making these canine-friendly areas people friendly too, with plenty of seating spaced out for those who prefer to sit and watch all the interaction unfold. Many have undercover areas with bench seats and tables, making them a great place for ‘pet parents’ to sit and discuss their fur baby, picking up knowledge and valuable tips about diet and overcoming behavioural issues.
And let’s face it, who doesn’t like talking about their own furry friend?

Pros of Dog Parks

Starting after first vaccination as a puppy is the best time to introduce your pooch to other dogs and people. If you attended puppy pre-school classes, normally run by your local vet, you’ll have a good idea of how your pup will handle being around other people and dogs. They may stay close, or for those a little more confident, they may just take off and be happy to explore all the park has to offer.

These parks can be the perfect place for excitable pups and working breeds to expel all their pent-up energy while fostering mental stimulation in a positive way. This is important for preventing problems associated with the boredom of being contained within 4 walls alone for hours on end and lack of exercise due to small backyard environments, like destruction and escape attempts. As pack animals, most dogs also need socialisation to thrive.

Why Socialisation Is Important for Dogs

It is so important for young dogs to be socialised early with both humans and other dogs, but this socialisation needs to be introduced correctly. After puppy pre-school classes, dog parks are an excellent place for puppies to experience multiple sizes and breeds of dogs, learn proper canine body language and social cues from older and wiser dogs, as well as get to know the many different kinds of people, just like us humans do.
Well-socialised dogs will educate your puppy on subtle dog body language and social cues that will be essential for them as they grow older. In fact, this doesn’t just apply to just youngsters. All dogs should keep up their canine socialisation skills to keep them well behaved around people and other animals.
As mentioned above, you should wait until your puppy has received all of its early vaccinations and boosters before exposing them to other dogs. Your local vet can help you determine what your puppy’s vaccination schedule should be and how soon they will be protected from infectious disease before you head out for some canine interaction.

Why Physical & Mental Exercise Is Important for Dogs

Dogs need daily exercise, plus mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. A visit to the local park is an excellent way to provide these needs.
A good cardio work-out from running with other dogs will keep their heart, lungs, and muscles healthy. Playtime with different types of dogs, people, and equipment will also keep their brains active.

Dogs that lack mental stimulation in their day-to-day lives, especially those left alone all day, will become sad, destructive and anxious because they have no outlet for all that pent-up energy. This is especially true for working breeds such as kelpies, collies, retrievers, corgis, huskies, and terriers, plus larger active breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog and Pointers. Providing both mental and physical stimulation every day is essential not only for your dog’s welfare but to protect your furniture and shoes from being the target of frustration too!

Cons of Dog Parks

While there are some dangers that do sometimes exist in public parks including contagious illnesses, dog fights, and injuries. Common sense applied will remove the level of risk, and making sure your dog’s vaccinations are kept up to date is something we’ll mention frequently. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, so do give your attendance to all public areas some careful thought to make sure you are not putting your dog under any undue stress.

Dog Parks Can Spread Disease

Diseases and parasites can be spread anywhere there are large numbers of dogs, including canine training classes and parks. Pet parents should be aware of highly contagious diseases that can be spread including:

• Canine Distemper
• Parvovirus
• Kennel Cough
• Canine Influenza

All of these diseases are spread through the air or faeces from dog to dog. Canine vaccinations from your vet are available to help prevent the transmission of these.

Both internal and external parasites/worms can also be spread when dogs gather. These can include:

• Worms, such as Hookworms, Tapeworms, and Roundworms
• Giardia
• Fleas
• Ticks

Most of these parasites are preventable with the use of a monthly treatment, and annual faecal tests can catch the presence of internal parasites early.

Fights & Injuries Can Occur At Dog Parks

Anytime there is more than one, there is the chance of a disagreement or injury if it goes too far. Some common concerns are injuries with large dogs playing too roughly with smaller breeds, however as you have probably witnessed, it’s the smaller dog, with small dog syndrome that is normally the instigator, with the larger dog snapping back after being continually harassed. A puppy can accidentally hurt itself by being clumsy and falling off something high.

Previous bad experiences with other dogs or a negative park experience can create fear around parks in the future. If you are unsure about how your dog behaves around large groups of dogs, specific types of breeds or people, immediately letting them off the lead at a dog park is not the best way to test them out. Basic puppy training and introductory socialisation is best performed in a more controlled environment, while on a lead.

In addition, it is important to remember that you do not know every dog’s temperament at the dog park. Other dogs may be reactive to specific breeds or sizes of dogs or are simply not well socialised. Keep an eye on your dog while they are playing to watch for warning signs of aggressive behaviour from another dog. It’s also a good idea for all pet parents at the park to learn about canine body language to stop these fights before they happen.

Summary and Further Thoughts

Start off slow. If your dog has not been socialised with other dogs and humans, depending on the breed and the dog’s nature, they could become stressed and or aggressive. Keeping close by is recommended so nothing untoward happens. Once the excitement of something new has subsided, you’ll probably find everyone gets on just fine.

Before visiting a dog park, test your dog’s reactivity to people and other dogs in a more controlled environment, such as leashed walks, small playdates, or a friend visiting your home. An off-leash dog park is not a great place to test your dog’s temperament or friendliness around other dogs or people for the first time. It’s also a good idea for your dog to have some basic training before coming to the park, as this can dramatically help in a potentially dangerous situation. Finally, a dog older than one year who has not been spayed or neutered yet can invite some unwanted attention at the park that you may want to avoid.

Dog Park Checklist:

• Test your dog’s temperament around other dogs and people beforehand
• Follow your veterinarian’s advice on vaccinations and parasite prevention, remember different state’s weather and environment breeds different species of worms etc.
• Observe how other dogs are playing in a park before bringing your dog in, or taking him/her off the lead
• Put distractions away and keep a close eye on your dog at all times
• Stay close enough to your dog that you can intervene if an interaction starts to take an adverse turn
• Don’t force unwanted interactions
• Allow some time for your pooch to adjust, but if they’re clearly not having fun, leave

All dogs within a park should be fully vaccinated and know basic commands to help keep off-leash areas safe for everyone.
Find local vets to discuss your dog’s vaccination and parasite prevention needs.

PetsBook’s Pet Directory has a comprehensive list of dog parks Australia wide, so if one doesn’t suit, don’t get discouraged, simply try another.

Oliver (Senior Dog Reporter)

Hi to all my fellow canines, I’m Oliver, the Senior Dog News Reporter here at PetsBook.
I will endeavour to bring to dog owners’ informative and educational articles to help make the bond between you and them even stronger.